Acting Officer Dinner

“The Fantastic Journey”

16th June 2013

Celebration Luncheon for the 2012 Acting Mark Provincial Officers and Special Representatives.


The Hall across the Marina	Opening Plaque

Well here we are, the end of a Fantastic Journey, today all those who were privileged/lucky enough to have been chosen as Acting Provincial Mark Officers for the past year were invited to a special Luncheon organised by Russell Greenhow, the 2012 Prov JW, at Garstang Masonic Hall in the Wyrebank Suite.


John Waring, Sheila Mills, Peter Connolly	Mr & Mrs Ron Bentley
with Doreen Waring

The sun came out for the journey North and Tom was in a good mood until that is, where we joined the A6 !! Not being a road I usually travel on I just presumed there must have been a major disaster somewhere as we never got above 25 mph, I was early, but now time was slipping bye. Ignoring Tom I turned off on to the B6430, he wasn’t amused and started with his usual tan trams, turn round, turn round, no I pressed on undeterred down a lovely picturesque country road, lots of flowers and eggs for sale, a sign for a summer Fayre, then a main Jaguar dealer followed by a main Land Rover dealer, emm I thought strange what are they doing out here, “ah there must be plenty of money around these here parts”. Before too long my wife not Tom said,” turn left” and then “turn left” and yes success we were there.


Above and Below, All seated and ready to go!

Now for anyone who hasn’t had the pleasure of visiting this Masonic Hall I can only describe it and its location as stunning, being right next to a marina on the Lancaster Canal, lots of pleasure craft tied up and across the water a lively pub “The Old Tithe barn”.


On entering there was a warm welcome from everyone already assembled in a pleasant bar/lounge area, just time to get some drinks before we are called to the dining room overlooking the marina for the meal to commence. Seated with all the friends made during our year together in office there was a truly great atmosphere, we were served up a suburb three course meal followed by cheese, biscuits and coffee by the very attentive staff at Wyrebank. Lots of good humoured conversation during the meal about our own lives, about all the places we had visited around Lancashire over the past twelve months and how sad that it was over so soon.



Russell thanked everyone for attending, the PGM Peter Connolly accompanied as always on these occasions by his lovely wife Lynne gave a short speech thanking everyone for their support, that is to say the Ladies as well as the Brethren, saying that an average of 30 Acting Officers attended every meeting, he told a couple of great stories which brought much laughter and also made mention of phones going off during meetings, one of which he passed over very quickly, however for those of us who were present at that particular meeting we know who’s phone it was !!


Lynne, PGM and the two Wardens 2012	PGM in full flow.

As the Festivities were drawing to a close Russell presented Lynne and Peter with a gift for all their time and much appreciated dedication to this wonderful Mark Degree, he then presented a bottle of Champagne for the Lady who’s lucky number ticket was found under their cup on the table and finally before all the goodbyes Peter presented a vase complete with Lilies to each and every Lady present.


Its all in the expression "A Tall Story"	Neil Ward GMO 2012 his Lady, winner of the Champagne & Russell Greenhow GJW 2012
In conclusion I would just like to say that should you have ever wondered about joining the Mark Degree, Do It Now, it is truly the Friendly/Happy Degree, we the Acting Officers have enjoyed every minute of our year, we have made new friends which will I’m sure always be friends, we have travelled as far as Ulverston in the North down to Urmston in the South and seen halls and places we would probably never, ever had visited. There is a sadness in our year being over all too soon but we are left with lots of happy memories which I for one will never forget, the Degree is lead by a man of great inspiration and we have all felt honoured that for a short time we were part of His Team.


Lynne, PGM, Linda (wife) & Me	Neil Ward, Doug & Gary Little with wives and friends

Should you ever get the chance to be an Acting Mark Officer grab it with Both Hands.


Lodge Rooms
I have included some pictures of the Hall itself just so that you can see just how well appointed it is, a real jewel of a building in such a wonderful setting, if you get invited to Garstang Masonic Hall, take the time and make the visit.
Below: Window showing Founding Lodges
	Peter insisted that I included a photo of the man behind the camera and a brief resume of myself, well that’s me of course with my Manchester City Club Blazer on, hope you read about my visit to Wembley this year, yes the one where one team didn’t turn up. I have a season ticket at the Etihad but also watch and attend all levels of football, I also watch Salford Rugby League which isn’t fun at all!

	I live in Urmston, Manchester and have recently retired as an Intelligence Officer with GMP, my Craft, Chapter, RAM and Mark Lodges all meet at Urmston Masonic Hall, where I am a Director, my particular role is to look after buildings/grounds. I have sung with rock n roll bands for most of my life and now sing at lots of Ladies Nights in Lancs and Yorkshire, (solo now of course) Rock n Roll, 60’s, Buble, Sinatra in fact something for everyone. Perhaps at some future occasion I can tell you some of the stories, mostly funny about singing at all the clubs up and down England (including all the miners clubs now sadly gone) Anyway enough about me, In closing Its been a real pleasure for me to write reports and take photo’s for Peter and the Mark Degree, to work with our hard working excellent Web Master Mike Beesley, to have been an Acting Officer and to have made many new friends, as I previously said if your thinking about joining Mark Do It you won’t regret it.


John Aitken GJD 2012	Mr & Mrs A.H. Fairhurst
Trying out the WM's chair for size.


The old an new Wardens G.F. Berkley and P. Hegarty
and the old A.W. Dickson and R. Greenhow	Mr & Mrs N. Brown



Keith and Mrs Beardmore with Geoff and Mrs Lee	Mr & Mrs J. Dutchman-Smith and Mr & Mrs C.J. Hughes



Mr & Mrs Ken Boon	Mr & Mrs Glover with Dave Emmerson & Julie Bradbury

Mark Well.
Austin N.Fletcher. PPrAGDC. Shepherd Eastwood Mark Lodge. No.1173.

Photographs Courtesy of Austin Fletcher and Colin Mills